Machine tool control



Feb 24, 194s. F A BARNES 2,436,373

I MACHINE TOOL CQNTROL a;

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30. 1944 FIG. I '26 di LUL-AIR 20A l i 19A i /48' 'f 49/ 34 J j SUMP 37 \33 I FIG. 2

Bnnenlor v FREoERmK A. BARNES F. A. BARNES MACHINE TOOL CONTROL Feb. 24, 1948.

Filed Jupe 30, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2- FIG.l 9

3nvcntor I 47,6 In L FREDERICK A. BARNES Feb. 24, 1948. F. A. BARNES MACHINE TOOL CONTROL Filed June 30, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet '5 r, w m m 3S E N R A B A. K IO R E. D E R La www Patented Feb. 24, 1948 oFFlcI:l

MACHINE TOOL CONTROL Cleveland Heights, `hio, eter Company, a. corpora- Frederick A. Barnes,

assignoxl to Bailey M tion of Delaware Application June 30, 1944, Serial No. 542,920

11 Claims.

This invention relates to duplicators for controlling the operation of a material forming machine so that a work piece is formed to a contour or configuration determined by a template, pattern, sample, cam or the like.

One of the objects of my invention is to improve the sensitivity of contour control of the type described and to thereby increase the accuracy with which the work piece is formed.

A further object ci' my invention is to provide a contour control of materially simpler construction than those now available.

In accordance with my invention the template or cam for producing the desired configuration on the work piece is scanned by a tracer regulating a jet of fluid from a nozzle to the atmosphere. Variations in the shape of the template cause corresponding changes in the rate of iiuid discharged from the nozzle, which variations are then used to control the relative positioning of the tool and work piece.

Further, in" accordance with my invention the changes in iiuid pressure control the relative positioning of the tool and work piece through a hydraulic relay and servo-motor to the end that ample power is available for accurately positioning the tool relative to the work piece, or vice pneumatic and hydraulic control circuits employed in the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transfer valve arrangement oi' Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective drawing of one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of Fig. -4 along the line 5-5 in direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of my invention. l

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 6 taken along the line 1--1 vin the direction oi' the arrows.

Figs. 8 and 9 are schematic diagrams of a iurther arrangement.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic drawing of another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 11 illustrates av part oi' Fig. 10.

As is well understood by those familiar with the art, in some machine tools such as lathes the tool is moved longitudinally and transversely of the work piece which, except for rotation about its center, remains stationary. In other machine versa. The relative rates of movement of the tool and work piece in two or more directions are simultaneously controlled so that the rate of cutting speed oi the tool remains substantially constant regardless of changes in contour or profile of the template, pattern or cam.

A particular feature oi' the 'present invention resides in the provision of an improved'tracer mechanism for use with the general system described and claimed in the copending application of Clarence Johnson, Serial No. 524,707, and my copending application, Serial No. 524,705.

Obviously a duplicator or contour control of the type forming the subject matter of my inventionv may be employed with material forming machines or machine tools of various types such as milling machines, lathes, slotters, planers, die sinking machines or other machines in which the relative feed between the tool and the work may be suitably controlled. By way of example I 1llustrate and will describe my invention as applied particularly to metal turning lathes. Further applications and modications oi' my invention will be readily apparent.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view o! an engine lathe illustrating the application of my invention thereto.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the tools such as some types of'milling machines the work piece may be moved in two directions while the tool, except for rotation about its axis, remains stationary. In some other types of milling machines and usually in die sinking machines, the tool may be moved in one or more directions and the work piece may also be moved in one or more directions. In all instances it will be observed, however, that .it is the relative movement between the tool and work piece that causes the work piece to be formed to a desired shape. As one specific embodiment I have chosen to illustrate and describe my invention incorporatedv in a lathe wherein the work piece, except for rotation about its center, remains stationary and the tool is moved transversely and longitudinally thereof. vIt will be evident that my invention is applicable to a wide variety of machine tools and that when I speak of relative movement between the tool and work piece I include either an arrangement Where the tool isstationary and the work piece is moved, or where .the work piece is stationary and the tool is moved, or a combination of the two.

Referring now to Fig. 1, I show my invention applied to an engine lathe I having a head stock 2 adapted to be rotated by any suitable means. A carriage 4 is movable longitudinally along the bed of the lathe in suitable ways 5 and supports the tail stock 3. Also movable longitudinally along the bed of the lathe in suitable ways 8 is a carriage 1 upon which is mounted a cross- 3 slide 8 movable on ways transversely o! the bed o! the lathe.

The cross-slide 8 is provided with an adjustable tool support 8 in which is secured a tool I8. Transverse movements of the tool III are-Droduced through the agency of a hydraulic cylinder II having a piston I2 adapted to position the cross-slide 8 through the agency of a piston rod I3. Longitudinal movements of the tool I0, that is movements of the tool parallel to the bed of the lathe in a longitudinal direction, are produced by means of a, hydraulic cylinder I4 having an operating piston rod I5.

Supported by the head stock 2 and the tail stock 3 is a work piece I6 which for illustrative purposes is shown as being formed to a parabolic shape by the tool I0. This particular shape has no signicance, it being apparent as the description proceeds that by my invention the work piece I6 may be formed automatically to any desired contour. The master template or cam I'I is rigidly held in parallelism to the work piece I6 upon any convenient extension i8 of the lathe bed. The profile of the master template I 1 is the contour which it is desired to reproduce upon the work piece I6. In Fig. l the shape of the work piece I5 follows in general a parabolic function merely as an example. For contacting and following the profile of the master template I I I provide a tracer assembly IS rigidly mounted on and movable with the cross-slide 8. The tracer assembly I9 is shown in'larger and more detailed fashion in other` figures of the drawing as having a vertical extension ZIIadapted to contact the front edge or profile of the master template I'I. A body member or housing 2l is adjustably mounted to the cross-slide 8 and the tracer extension or arm 2D is carried with the body 2 I.

Inasmuch as the tracer assembly forms a partlcular feature .of my present invention, it will be described in greater detail in connection with Figs. 4-11 inclusive. Suiice it to say now that the tracer arm 20 continually scans the proiile 'of the template II and controls the bleed to atmosphere of a substantially constant pressure supply of compressed air. The variable bleed or rate of dow of air to the: atmosphere produces corresponding or proportional changes in back pressure or pressure of the air effective to cause a positioning of the piston rods I3 and I5 for transverse and longitudinal movements respectively of the tool IIJ.

In Fig. 2 I have shown diagrammatically the pneumatic and hydraulic circuits for controlling the servo-motors II and I4 bythe tracer IS in such manner that the motor II will position the cross-slide and consequently the tool I transversely of the lathe, or in other words toward or away from the work piece IB as the tool is traveling longitudinally along the work. The action is such that if the contacted edge of the master template Il is a straight line parallel to the axis of the work piece I6, then the work piece I will be turned to cylindrical form. If the contacted edge of the template I'I is a straight line, but inclined to the axis of the work piece i5, then the work piece i5 will be shaped to a taper. The particular showing of Fig. 1 is in general a parabolic curve on the contacted edge ci cmplate Il', and thus the form which is o he produced on the work piece i6.

,air under pressure from any convenient source used through a pressure regulator 22 to a er M from which a branch 25 leads through an orifice 26 to the tracer assembly I9. As the discharge from the tracer I9 to the atmosphere varies, the pressure in the branch 25 between the orifice 26 and the tracer assembly I9 will vary, and such controlled air pressure representative of changes in contour of the template I'I is eiective upon a bellows 21 of a pilot valve assembly 28 and simultaneously upon a bellows 29 of a fluid resistance assembly 30. The pilot valve 28 and iluid resistance 30 are fully described and claimed in the said copending applications of Barnes and Johnson.

I show an oil pump 3| driven by a motor 32 and drawing its supply of oil from a sump 33. Oil under pressure is supplied the pilot valve 28 by the pump 3I through a pipe 34. From the pilot valve 28 oil is supplied to one end or the other of the hydraulic motor II through the pipes 35 or 36. Drainage from the pilot 28 is returned to the sump 33 through a, pipe 31. In the pipe 36 I show a hand adjustable valve 38 for variably throttling the flow of il therethrough and thus controlling the basic rate of travel of the piston rod I3. Within any preselected range of speed of piston t'ravel the relay 28 not only controls the direction of piston travel, but also the speed within said range.

In connection with the hydraulic motor I4 and` adjustable uid resistance 30 I provide switching valves 39 and 40 arranged to be moved together to either a normal" or a rapid traverse position of operation of the servo-motor I4. The valves 39 and 40 are shown in Fig. 2 in the normal operating position. Oil under pressure from the pump 3I is forced through a. pipe 4I, the valve 4D, and a pipe 43 to one end of the hydraulic motor I4, Oil from the other end of the motor passes through a pipe 42, the valve 40, the valve 38, a pipe 44, the adjustable uid resistance 30, and the pipe 45 to the sump 33. The regulation of the variable resistance 30 determinesthe rate of flow of oil through the pipe 42, and consequently the rate of travel of the piston rod I5 toward the left in the drawing. Thus the rate of longitudinal travel of the tool I0 along the work piece I5 is controlled by the variable resistance 30 to passage of oil therethrough from the left-hand end of the I motor I4.

In Fig. 3 I show the passage relation of the switching valves 39, 40 for a rapid return of the piston rod I5 from left to right of Fig. 2. That is for a rapid return of the tool to the beginning of its working'travel. Oil from the pump 3I passes directly through the pipe 4I, the valve 40 and the pipe 42; while oil from the right-hand end of the motor I4 passes directly through the pipe 43, valve 40, the valve 39, to the pipe 45 and sump 33, Thus on the rapid return of the piston rod I5 there is no throttling of its speed of travel by the variable resistance 3B, and thus the tool is traversed to the right at maximum speed.

In general the operation of the system illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is as follows. If the contacted edge of template II is a straight line parallel to the axis of the work I6 the air presure established within the pipe 25 is such that the bellows 21 and 29 (and the movable parts of the assemblies 28, 30 positioned thereby) provide a normal condition of operation. The pilot valve 28 locks oil in the pipes 35, 36 so that the piston rod I3 is not moving, and the tool travels a cutting path parallel to the axis of the work piece I6. At the same time the variable fluid resistance 30 is in a position to provide a normal speed of travel of rthe piston rod I5 from right to left on the drawing, thus moving the along the work at a uniform normal rate.

If the prole of the template I'I recedes from the axis of-the work piece, or advances toward the axis ofthe work piece, the air pressure within the p'ipe 26 is correspondingly varied in proper direction to increase or decrease the air pressure within the bellows 21 and 29, and to cause a corresponding positioning of the movable element of the pilot valve 28 and uid resistance 30. Such movement causes the hydraulic motor I I to position the tool toward or away from the axis of the work piece I6, and thus reproduce upon the Work piece I6 the contour of the master template I 'I. At the same time any departure (in either direction) of the movable element of the variable resistance 30 from normal position will increase the resistance to oil passage therethrough and tend to slow up travel of the piston rod I 5. Thus longitudinal travel of the tool I0 from right to left on the drawing will be at a speed slower than the normal speed depending upon the rate of travel of the tool I0 toward or away from the axis of the work piece I6, If, for example, the proiile of the template I'I includes a shoulder at a right angle with the axis of the work piece I 6, then there will be a complete stoppage of longitudinal travel of the tool I0 while the tool is advancing directly toward the axis of the work piece or is receding directly therefrom. Movement of the tracer arm either toward or away from the contacted edge of the template I'I from a normal or neutral position results in a decrease in speed of travel of the tool I0 in its longitudinal direction from its normal speed of travel and irrespective as to whether the tool is advancing toward the axis 0f the work piece or is receding therefrom.

After complete travel of the tool has been accomplished from right to left, then a rapid return of the toolto the right may be accomplished by moving the switching valves 39, 40 to the position shown in Fig. 3 wherein the connections to the cylinder I4 are reversed and the variable resistance 30 is made non-effective.

The system which I have just described in connection with Figs. 1, 2-and 3 is in general a twoelement control wherein the lathe tool is positool I0 tioned both transversely and longitudinally of the work piece. It will, of course, be seen that either element may be employed' without necessarily employing the second element. For example, a lathe or similar material forming machine may have the tracer assembly I9 control only the cross feed of the tool or only the longitudinal travel of the tool, or the two combined as I have just described. It may, however, in certain instances be preferable to include a third element, namely, a control of the speed of rotation of the work piece I6 so that the linear cutting speed of the tool will remain unchanged regardless of the diameter of the work piece at which the tool is cutting. In other words, so that the speed of rotation of the work piece I 6 will be different when the tool III is cutting at a larger diameter than it is when the tool is cutting at a smaller diameter. To illustrate such a possibility I have indicated in Fig. l an oil motor 46 for rotating the work I6 and under the control of a tracer assembly I9A which may be mounted on and longitudinally moved with the carriage 1. On the cross-slide 8 I locate acam surface 41 movable with the tool I0 and relative to the tracer arm 20A of the tracer assembly I9A so that the tracer arm 20A is deflected by the cam 41 an amount indicative of the transverse position of the tool I0 relative to the axis of the work piece I6.

As explained in connection with Fig. 2 the tracer assembly I9A may control a variablevuid resistance 30A in the supply line 48 leading from the pump 3| to the motor 46, orin the discharge line 49 between the motor 46 and the pump 33, so that the speed of the motor 46 will depend entirely upon the position of the tracer arm 20A relative to the assembly I 9A, and consequently will depend upon the transverse location of the cutting tool III. The tracer 'assembly ISA is connected to the air header 24 through a branch 60 and applies a regulated air pressure to the bellows 5I of the fluid resistance 39A, such pressure bearing a definite relation to the transverse position of the tool I0 relative the axis of the work piece I6. In other words, as the diameter at which the tool I0 is cutting increases or decreases the speed of rotation of the work piece I8 will correspondingly decrease or increase respectively. It will be apparent that this third element of control may be included on the lathe of Figs l, 2 and 3 either alone or in combination with either or both of the two elements of transverse and longitudinal tool travel.

I will now describe in greater detail the tracer assembly I9 with reference to Figs. 4-11 inclusive.

Referring in particular` to Figs. 4 and 5, I show therein a perspective and a sectionalelevation substantially to scale of` a tracer assembly which I have found to be satisfactory and which includes certain features which I believe are novel and constitute invention. The body member 2| may be made of cast iron for example, and is provided with a machined cylindrical surface as at 52 for adjustably mounting on the cross-slide 8 by means of an appropriate clamp in any position of possible 360 rotation. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and the assembly of Fig. 1, the relatively sharp edge of the tracer arm 20 scans the edge of a relatively thin plate template I'I. The tracer arm may assume any convenient cross-sectional shape, as for example a generally triangular shape as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, or may comprise a small diameter cylindrical rod. The entire assembly I9 may be rotated 180 on the surface of 52 for boring operations or inside turning for example. An upwardly extending portion of the body member 2l houses a valve sleeve 64 held thereto by a lock nut 66. Within the valve sleeve 64 is a valve member 63 positionable axially in the bore 66 of the valve sleeve. Air at substantially constant pressure of 45 p. s. i. is available from the pipe 26 in an annulus 51 and through one or more openings 6B to the interior oi the stationary valve sleeve 54.

'The valve member 63 is provided near its right-hand end (on the drawing) with a sealing guide portion slightly tapered toward each end. With air under a pressure of approximately 45 p. s. i. in the bore 66 therewill be a continual constant bleed of air to the atmosphere toward the right on the drawing past the sealing guide portion. Due to the shape of this sealing portion such bleed will tend to center the portion in the'bore of the sleeve 64 forming a lubricating lm of minute thickness of flowing air surrounding the greatest diameter of the sealing portion. The result is that the valve member 63 may be positioned axially of the sleeve 64 with a minimumv of friction or pressure reaction. m its idle or uniniiuenced position the valve member 63 is so adjusted that the valve portion 59 just seals the port end (left-hand) of the sleeve 54. Under this condition the pressure within the sleeve I is normally 45 p. s. l.

Under normal operating conditions, i. e. when the tracer arm 2li is scanning a straight portion of prole of the template Il parallel to the axis of the work piece I6, the tracer arm is deiiected slightly toward the left (Fig. 5) and the movable valve member 53 is moved toward the left until .the right-hand edge of the portion 59 has cleared the port or bore 56 of the valve sleeve 54 by .003 to .005 inch. Under this operating condition the valve portion 59 is guided by the fins 60 and there exists a bleed to atmosphere of air from the bore 55 through the clearance between the portion 59 and the end of bore 56 between the guide surfaces 610. Under such operating conditions a pressure of approximately 35 p. s: i. or a norma pressure exists in the bore 56 and in the pipe 25.

The tracer arm 20 is adjustably mounted in a 65p structure 6I supported above the body member 52 by four substantially vertical leaf springs 62. The leaf springs are arranged in two pairs, the one pair straddling in truss construction the Vone end of the valve member 53 and the other pair stra'ddling in truss construction the other end of the valve member 53. It will be apparent that the arrangement provides for a movement of the cap 6I, through ilexing of the springs 62, in either direction along a single prescribed path normal to the iiat of the: leaf springs. Stop screws 63 limit the travel in either direction of the cap 6I and tracer arm 20.

I provide means for varying the relation between the deiiection of the tracer arm 20 and the amount of bleed to the atmosphere past the valve portion 59 and correspondingly the air pressure within the bore 56 for any given position of the tracer arm 20. Carried by the cap 6i is a. downwardly extending arm 64 having a saw slot in its lower end and having an opening adapted to receive a cylindrical projection 65 of the valve member 53. The projection 65 is fastened to the valve member 53 at its far end by a. relatively flexible steel rod 66 passing through the bored interior of 53. Adjustment of member 53 axially in the bore 56 is accomplished by loosening a holding screw 6l and sliding 65 in its moving arm 64.

Normally when the arm 20 is in its idle or undeected position the valve portion 59 just seals off the end of the bore 56 and a pressure of approximately p. s; l. exists within the bore 5l and in the pipe 25. Under a normal operating condition wherein the arm 26 is riding a. straight portion of the template I1 parallel to the axis of the Work piece, the arm 20 will be slightly deflected to the left and a bleed opening of approximately .003 to .005 inch will exist past the valve portion 59, thus dictating a pressure of approximately 35 p. s. i. in the -bore 55. Further deflection of the tracer arm 20 to the left will increase the bleed past the valve portion 59 with consequent decrease in pressure within the bore 56 and pipe 25, whereas a lessening of the deflection or movement of the tracer arm 2U toward the right will tend'to close oli the bleed from the here 56 and allow the pressure therein to build up toward the maximum of 45 p. s. i.

Referring back to Figs. l and 2, and taking certain arbitrary iigures of air pressure within the pipe 25 as an example. Under a normal condition of 'operation wherein the prole of the template Il is a straight line parallel to the axis of the work piece I6 (dictating a cylindrical turning of the work piece I6) a normal pressure of 35 p. si. will obtain in the pipe 25, within the bellows 21, and within the bellows 29. Such normal pressure positions the pilot 28 to a position wherein equal pressures are applied through the pipes 35, 36 and the piston rod I3 does not move. Therefore the cross-slide 8 does not advance or retract and the tool III remains at the same distance from the axis of the'work piece I6. At the same time this normal pressure of 35 p. s. i., eiective upon the bellows 29, positions the variable iluid resistance 3U to its maximum opening wherein least restriction or resistance to iiow is experienced to the iluid leaving the cylinder I4 through the pipe 42 to the sump 33. Under this condition a uniform maximum speed of travel of the piston rod I5 toward the left is accomplished, and thus the tool I0 travels axially of the work I6, turning it to cylindrical form. As previously explained, under this condition of operation the tracer arm 20 is in contact riding on the edge of the template I1 and slightly deected toward the left (Fig. 5) relative to the body 52. This produces a movement of the valve member 53 toward the left to an extent where a minute clearance exists between the end of the valve portion 59 and the bore 56, thus providing a bleed jet of air to the atmosphere past the guide vanes 60 and relieving the pressure within the pipe 25 to approximately 35 p. s. i. Obviously this norma1" pressure may be varied somewhat by adjustment of the projection in the arm 64 to 'move the valve member 53 slightly to the right or to the left in the bore 56 for a. given deflected position of 20.

Assume now that the profile of the template Il departs from a straight line parallel to the axis of the work piece and becomes a straight line inclined to said axis in a direction to demand the turning of a uniform taper on the work piece of gradually decreasing diameter. As the tracer arm 20 in moving toward the left meets a decreasing resistance, it tends to return toward the right (Fig. 5) toward its idle or undeflected position. This results in a tendency for the valve member "53 to move toward the right and decrease the bleed between the portion 59 and the end of the bore 56. 'I'he result is a building up of pressure Within the pipe 25 from 35 p. s. i. toward 45 p. s. i.

' Such increase in pressure, effective upon the bellows 21, positions the pilot valve 28 in a direction which through unbalance of pressures in the pipes 35, 36 causes the piston rod I3 to move the crossslide 8 and tool I0 toward the axis of the work piece I6, thus tending to decrease the diameter Aat which the tool I0 is cutting. At the same time this movement of the cross-slide 8 carries the body 2l in a direction to follow up the tracer arm 20 and tend to restore the pressure within the pipe 25 to the normal pressure of 35 p. s. i., which is the pressure wherein travel of the piston rod I3 would cease. inasmuch as the vproille of the cam I1 which the tracer arm 20 is following continues to slope away from the axis of the work piece I6, the tracer arm 20 continues to move toward the right (Fig. 5) and the body 2i continues to follow it up so that a definite pressure within the pipe '25 is established at some value between 35 p. s. i. and 45 p. s. i. representaa straight line dictating the turning of a taper of increasing diameter as the tool travels toward the left, thenA the tracer arm 20 would be deflected further toward the left, resulting in a greater bleed past the portion 59 to the atmosphere and a lowering of the pressure in the pipe 25 below 35 p. s. i. to a lower limit of about 20 p. s. i. Such lowering of the pressure would result in the piston rod I3 moving the cross-slide 8 and tool I0 away from the center line of the work I6 to cut at an increasingly greater diameter and produce an increasing taper toward the left. Again the body 2|, carried by the cross-slide 8, would attempt to follow up the continued movement of the tracer arm 20 toward the axis of the work piece I6, resulting in an established bleed opening and pressure within the pipe 25 representative of the slope of the taper dictated by the template I1.

As previously mentioned, whenever -the profile of the template I1 departs from a straight line parallel to the axis of the work piece I6, i. e. whenever the pressure within the pipe 25 departs in either direction from its normal pressure of 35 p. s. i. the variable fluid resistance 30 decreases the rate of travel of the piston rod I5 toward the left from its normal or maximum rate of travel. Thus, as the turning operation on the work I6 departs from cylindrical, the longitudinal travel speed of the tool Ill is decreased. To carry this to an extreme, if a shoulder normal to the axis of the work I6 is encountered on the proille of the template I1, the longitudinal travel of the tool Ill would cease entirely while the tool I0 is advancing directly toward the axis of the work piece or is receding therefrom. It is obvious that this must occur, for such a shoulder could not be turned with the tool advancing longitudinally of the axis of the work piece.

When the travel of the tool toward the left along the work has been accomplished, it is desired to retract the assembly I9 from the template II and tool I0 from vthe work piece I8 toward the operator an inch or two prior to accomplishing a high speed return of the crossslide 8 to its starting position at the right. Such high speed return is accomplished as previously pointed out through operation of the switching valves 39, 40. To accomplish such a retraction of the cross-slide 8 manually I provide on the assembly I9 a plunger 68 (Fig. 5) spring forced normally to a downward position, but adapted to be hand pressed upwardly to engage the cam lower end of an arm B9 depending from thearm 54. Upward movement of the plunger GB forces the arm 69, the arm 64 and the valve member 53 toward the left an amount limited only by the preset position of the limiting screw 63. Such movement produces a maximum bleed to the atmosphere of pressure in the bore 56 and reduction of pressure within the pipe 25 to a minimum of p. s. i. Such maximum decrease in pressure in the pipe produces a movement of the cross-slide 8 toward the operator at maximum speed. At the same time this maximum decrease in pressure within the pipe 25 positions the variable resistance to a shutoff position stopping further travel of the tool I0 toward the left. The operator switches the valves 39, taking control of the servo-motor Il away from the variable resistance 30 and accomplishing travel of the cross-slide B toward the right at a maximum speed.

It is appreciated by those familiar with the art that the edge of the tracer arm 20, which contacts the Profile of the template Il. should approximate 4the shape of the cutting tool. In turning cylindrical or slow taper contours it is usual practice to use a relatively sharp-nose tool. For turning cannelures a round-nose tool is usually used, whereas for cleaning up straight wall shoulders or undercuts a duck-bill tool is used. I have illustrated in Figs lland 5 that the tracer arm 20 has'a contact portion approximating the shape of the tool which would be used for cylindrical or slow taper turning.

In cylindrical turning the assembly I9 is so mounted with reference to the cross-slide 8 that the fiat of each leaf spring 82 is parallel to the axis of the work piece I8, and thus to the lonJ gitudinal travel of the cross-slide 8. With such mounting the full flexing of the leaf spring is effective. axis of the contact edge of the tracer arm 20 is normal to the fiat of the spring 52, parallel to the axis of 53, and normal to the longitudinalv travel of the assembly I9. For other than cylindrical turning the assembly I9 is angularly moved on its machined surface 52 to use a .component force away from parallel with the fiat of the springs 62.

`The shape of the tracer edge usually approximates the shape of the cutting tool although it will be understood that the shape of the tool as well as the shape o1' the tracer edge are designed to i'it the Job and may vary from each other. I preferably rotate the assembly I9 on its machined surface 52 until the flats of the springs 62 are about 15 away from theI axial line of travel.

The tracer assembly of Figs. 4 and 5 provides a direct drive between the feeler 20 and the valve member 53 with no interposed bearings, knife edges. or the like, and substantially no anguiar-ity of motion. The ratio of motion does not change, there is no magnifying linkage, and

a maximum 'of simplicity and directness of action exists. In other words, Ithe positioning of the feeler, due to the parallel spring mounting, is substantially straight line with resultant similar position of the valve member 53. Regardless oi the thickness of the template or plate Il the contacting edge of the feeler 2i will not rock or roll around said edge, thus introducing an error due to angularity in thepositioning of the valve member 53. There is therefore no tendency to wear the edges of the template and more accuracy of repetition results. If the template constitutes an actual sample, then the feeler contact edge may be lengthened to engage at a line on the horizontal diameter of the sample and no adverse eect will be felt upon the motion of the valve member 59, as there is no necessity of a definite or predetermined ratio of length of feeler arm to travel of the valve member.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7 a body member 10 is shown in somewhat diagrammatic fashion as having a tracer arm 20 at its uppermost extremity and supportingat its lower end a valve sleeve 54 in which is positionable a valve member 53. The assembly has a machined surface 52 cylindrical in shape for adjustably mounting the entire assembly on the cross-slide of the lathe. Mounted on the body member "I0, axially in line with the feeler arm 20 and valve member 53,"is a bearing cone 1I u'pon which is positioned a lower wobble plate 'I2 having around its periphery an upturned knife edge. The plate 'I2 has an upwardly extending portion'13 in which*` is adjustably located the feeler arm 20. N0rv mallyresting on the'lower plate 12 is an upper "l'his presupposes that the bisecting plate 14 having a raised at edge portion engaging the knife edge periphery ot the lower plate 12. The arrangement allows a wobble contact of minimum area between the plates 12 and 14 as the feeler arm 20 is deflected in any position around the bearing cone 1I. Inasmuch as the upper plate 14 is so mounted as to move substantially vertically, the result of any deilection of the upper end oi the tracer arm 20, with corresponding angular positioning of the lower plate 12, results always in an upward vertical positioning of the plate 14 from the position of rest shown in Fig. '7.

Suspended from the upper plate 14, through the medium of a yoke strap 15, is the upper assembly 16 of a connection with the valve member 53. The lower connection 16? is shown in section. The driving connection between the yoke 15 and the valve member 53 includes a positioning rod 11 having at either end a ball adjustably confined in the assembly 16 or 16. The arrangement provides for positioning the valve member 5I through the strap 15 with a minimum of friction, misalignment, etc.

In my preferred embodiment I provide four nat or leaf springs 18 mounted with the flats horizontal in pairs. As clearly indicated in Figs. 6 and '1 the individual pairs are arranged in truss construction eliminating a possibility of edgewise motion of the leaf spring and providing for flexing in either direction along a given vertical path. The outer ends of the four leaf springs 14 are rigidly supported on the body member 1l as at 1! and 80. The flexible ends of the upper springs 18 are fastened to the upper plate 14 while the exible ends of the lower pair of springs 18 are fastened to the yoke strap 15 as at Il. inasmuch as the upper plate 14 is fastened to the strap 15 it is clear that leaf springs 18 are in iixed spaced relation at one end to the statlonary body member 10 and in ilxed spaced relation at the other end to the movable assembly including the plate/14, the: yoke strap 1B, the parts 15, 16', 11 and the valve member 53. Thus flexing oi' the springs 18 in either direction along a vertical path results in vertical positioning of the valve member 53. Such ilexing of the springs 1l is o! course accomplished through wobbling of the lower plate 12 around the bearing cone 1I produced by deflection of the upper end of the tracer feeler' 2li. Deflection of the feeler 20 in any direction results in a lifting of the upper plate 14 and correspondingly a lifting of the valve member 53 with resulting increase in bleed of air to the atmosphere from the valve sleeve 4 with consequent lowering of pressure in the pipe 2B.

I provide a possibility of adjusting the interrelation between the valve member 53 and the valve slee e 54 as to the positioning of the land 8| relativ .the end of the sleeve 54 between the guide vanes 82 by threading the sleeve 54 upwardly or downwardly and tightening the lock nut 82A.

In the idle position of the assembly (as shown in Figs. 6 and '7) the feeler 20 is not contacting the profile of the template I1 and is, therefore, vertical relative the bearing cone 1I, The plate 12 is seating against the plate 14 in peripheral contact, and desirably there is a minimum bleed of air to the atmosphere past the land 8l. Such minimum bleed establishes a pressure in the control pipe 25 at approximately 45 p. s. i. This is the same condition as encountering a straight drop oi! shoulder on the template wherein the l2 feeler would theoretically not be in contact with the profile of the template I1 because said proiile had dropped out from under it as a. straight shoulder.

Under the idle condition of high pressure and low bleed the action on the bellows 21 and 29 is such that there would be no longitudinal travel but a maximum'rate of transverse travel of the tool inwardly toward the work and of the feeler toward the template surface until it engagedsame.

Upon engagement of the feeler 20 with the template profile the feeler is deected toward the right (Fig. '1) with the plates 12, 14 pivoting at the left-hand edge across the bearing cone 1i. This results in a raising of the plate 14 and valve member 53, thereby increasing the bleed past the land 8| to the atmosphere. Equilibrium is established under a normal condition as would be attained when the tracer feeler 20 is deflected a normal amount in contact with a straight section o! the proiile I1 parallel to the axis of the work piece. Under this normal condition of increased bleed and lowered pressure within the pipe 25, the pressure is approximately p. s. i. and no transverse motion is accomplished, but maximum rate of longitudinal travel. such as in cylindrical turning.

When the tracer feeler is not contacting the template it is in what I term an idie" or uninfluenced position with respect to the tracer body. Under this condition the air bleed valve is adiusted to produce motion of the tracer assembly toward the template. The movement continues until the template contacts the feeler and defiects the latter slightly toward a. normaP' position. Such deilection changes the bleed rate to a value stopping transverse movement of the cross-slide, tool and tracer assembly, while producing longitudinal movement at maximum rate.

The result is cylindrical turning ii the tool is contacting the work and will persist as long as the feeler scans a straight profile on the template parallel to the axis oi the work piece.

Departure of the proiile dictating an inward movement of the tool reduces the deection of the tracer arm, thus increasing the control pressure, decreasing the rate of longitudinal travel and increasing the transverse travel in an inward direction. Conversely, if the profile of the template |1 demands cutting at a larger diameter the deflection of the feeler 20 is increased with resulting decrease in control pressure, reversing the transverse motion so that the tool and tracer arm move outwardly and tending to slow down the longitudinal travel at the same time. It will thus be observed that either an increase or a decrease in control pressure, corresponding to agreater or a lesser deflection of the feeler 20, from normal" position results in an increasing of resistance to iiow of fluid through the pipe 42 and thus a decrease in rate of longitudinal travel.

I preferably provide a 1-1 ratio between the distance of the feeler 20 from the pivot 1I to the contact with I1 and the radius from pivot 1| to the contact between wobble plates. Inasmuch as 20 is the friction arm, any lengthening of 20 relative to such radius may produce wobble drag between the plates 12, 14 and stuttering action.

The particular arrangement depicted in Figs. 6 and 7 allows somewhat wider latitude oi' machining round corners, square shoulders and slow and fast tapers, on, a. single passage of the feeler `:maarre 13 over the template and of the tool `over the work piece. The facing or pointing of the contact edge of the feeler 20 does not have to be angularly varied in cutting both sides f a cannelure or stepped shaft shoulders. The tracer assembly is extremely sensitive and is accurate on substantially all changes in profile of the template' without adjustment.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I show schematically further parallel spring mounting arrangements advantageous under certain operating conditions.

In Fig. 8 a pair of leaf springs 83, 84 are rigidly supported at one end as at 85. They are angularly related to form a parallelogram with a bar 86, one end of which is adapted to scan the template I1. The lower end of the vertical member 86 is pivotally connected to position the bleed valve 81 substantially directly with movementof the bar 86 relative to the support 85 through engagement of the bar 86 with the template Il.

In Fig. 9 a somewhat similar arrangement is illustrated wherein horizontal positioning of tho. bar 88 through engagement with the template |1 acts through a link 89 to angularly position a bell crank 98 which'may form a baille against a jet of air bleeding to the atmosphere from a nozzle 9|. Alternatively the bell crank 90 may vertically position the stem 92 of an air pilot 93. Provision is made for vertically moving the link 89 to change the ratio of movement of the horizontal member of the bell crank 90 with respect to deflection of the bar 88 under contact with the template I1. Likewise provision is made for adjusting the nozzle 9| relative to the pivot 94 and/or positioning the pilot 92, 93 relative to the pivot 94 to change the sensitivity ofthe system.

In Figs. and 11 I depict a further arrangement of parallel spring supporting, wherein an endwise tracer has adjustable biasing means on the leaf spring loading.

The parallel leaf springs 95, 96 support for vertical movement a member 91 provided at its one end witha tracer feeler 98 adapted to scan the prol'e of a template 99. At the other end of the assembly 91 is a bleed valve |00 similar in general construction to those previously described. The assembly 91 is provided with adjustments lill. |82 permitting adjustment of the bleed valvel cutoff point.

A particular feature of the arrangements of Figs. 10 and 11 is the proision of biasing means for the leaf springs 95, 96 constituting an eccentric |03 positionabl'e through the agency of a hand lever |04 for varying the effect of coil springs |95, |96. The springs 95, 96 may be single individual leafs or may take a form such as that illustrated in Fig. l1.

In general I have illustrated and described certain preferred arrangements of tracer mechanisms for use in contour control of machine tools. While described with specic reference to turning operations on an engine lathe, it will be appreciated that tracers of the type forming the present invention may be used equallyr as well 'in connection with milling machines. die sinking work, and the like. In fact in connection with the relative positioning of a tool or work piece, irrespective as to whether the work piece is ste- 14 while-r have chosen to, iuustrate and describe certain preferred embodiments oi'my invention v it will be understood that I do not limited thereto.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A tracer mechanism for a machine tool having a relatively movable work piece and tool and having a pattern with a shape corresponding to the desired shape of the work piece, comprising in combination. a feeler arm adapted to scan the pattern, a structure having near oneend a cone pivot and near the other end the stationary part of a control couple, the pivot and part in axial alignment, a pair of opposed discs lying in a plane normal to the said axial alignment and normally contacting at their peripherles, one disc carrying the feeler and pivotable about said cone, the` mo vable part of the control couple carried by the other'disc, and'parallelogram motion means fastened at one end to said structure and at the other enti` to the said other disc and movable part whereby deflection of the feeler in any direction about said cone moves the movable part axially in the stationary part of the couple.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the parallelogram motion means comprises a plurality of desire to be leaf springs whose ats are normal to said axial.

alignment.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the control couple comprises a fluid valve discharging to the atmosphere.

4. A tracer mechanism for producing a control effect corresponding to the shape of a pattern, comprising, a follower mounted for angular movement about a cone point and having a feeler part scanning the pattern as the-tool traverses the work, the follower comprising a. wobble disc having an upturned edge around its periphery, a second wobble disc inverted over the ilrst wobble disc and adapted to .make peripheral contact therewith, meansfor producing a control` effect positionable by said second wobble disc, and a plurality of leaf springs dictating straight line vmotion of said second wobble disc and said means upon angular motion of the feeler about the cone.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the means for producing a control effect comprises a jet discharging fluid to the atmosphere.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein the control effect is a fluid pressure varying with the rate of flow of a uid discharging tothe atmosphere.

'7. A tracer mechanism for scanning a pattern comprising, in combination. a feeler arm adapted to scan the pattern, a valve casing communicable with the atmosphere, passage means for connecting said valve casing in communication with a source of pressure fluid, a valve member in said casing for controlling the rate of iluid discharge to the atmosphere, leaf springs fixed at their opposite endsto said feeler arm and to said valve casing, and means connecting said valve member to said leaf springs at vpoints movable relative to said casing as said springs are flexed, said valve member being positioned in said casing to cut oil communication with the atmosphere when said leaf springs are unflexed.

8. A tracer mechanism for producingv a con-,

atmosphere, means for supplying pressure fluid to said passage means, a valve member cooperating with said valve element Lor controlling the escape of pressure iiuid through said passage means to the atmosphere, yielding means supporting said tracer member for movement relative to said valve element, and means connecting said valve member to said tracer member for movement therewith, said connecting means being so arranged as to support said valve member in a position to reduce the escape of pressure fluid to a minimum when' said yielding means are unilexed.

9. A tracer mechanism for producing a control eiect corresponding to the shape of a pattern comprising, in combination, a tracer member adapted to scan the pattern, a valve sleeve communicable at its end with the atmosphere, means for supplying pressure iluid to the interior of said valve sleeve, a valve member having spaced portions cooperating with the walls of said valve sleeve for controlling the escape of pressure fluid to the atmosphere, yielding means supporting said tracer member for movement relative to said valve sleeve, and means connecting said valve member to said tracer member for movement therewith, said connecting means being such as to support said valve member normally in a position with one of its spaced portions just enclosing an end of said valve sleeve.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record tlle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS in the Number Name Datev 1,982,161 Gurney Nov. 27,1934 2,025,748 Howe Dec. 31, 1935 Y2,190,306 Balsiger Feb. 13, 1940 1,745,878 Trumpler Feb. 4, 1930 2,349,838 Alexandersson May 30, 1944 1,954,442 Dall Apr. 10. 1934 539,212 Amet May 14, 1895 2,007,232 Wall July 9, 1935 

